5 Tips for Getting Started with Wire Wrappinghttp://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2011/09/18/5-tips-for-getting-started-with-wire.aspxWhen I was in high school, I got bit by the jewelry-making bug. I had been experimenting with making jewelry from beads, paper, fibers, buttons and anything else I could get my hands on. A friend of mine was doing a lot of wire wrapping with polishedenCommunityServer 2008.5 SP2 (Debug Build: 40407.4157)re: 5 Tips for Getting Started with Wirehttp://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2011/09/18/5-tips-for-getting-started-with-wire.aspx#128763Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:26:28 GMTe599e337-6bb7-4670-8e80-180f614937ac:128763JKINO<p>I accidentally discovered a new jewelry idea. &nbsp;This was one of those &quot;Oops, I could&#39;ve had a V8&quot; moments...moment of discovery. &nbsp;I was given some old electrical wire (wire covered by plastic). &nbsp;By cutting away the plastic (same motion has peeling a carrot with a sharp blade) you&#39;ll find &quot;gold&quot;...actually it is copper. &nbsp;Using a little bit of lemon juice or Brasso, you&#39;ll be able to bring out a shiny lustre. &nbsp;The average size of the wire usually is anywhere between 14gauge - 20gauge. &nbsp;Because of the thickness of the wire, you would be smart to use a good wire cutter from a hardware store. &nbsp;Save your jewelry tools. &nbsp;I learned the hard way.</p>
<p>Using either a dowel or a store bought loop maker, start to wrap the wire around and around and around. &nbsp;Personally I don&#39;t use anything smaller than 1/2&quot; dowel. &nbsp;Anything smaller is not strong enough to hold its form when wrapping. &nbsp;After you&#39;ve wrapped an inch or two (it comes off the dowel easier and it is easier when cutting), squeeze it together with your hands, then pull it off the dowel. &nbsp;Pull the wrapped wire by the ends to allow an 1/8-1/4&quot; space (this is so you can cut the wire). &nbsp;Now, using a good wire cutter (again, I wouldn&#39;t use your jewelry cutters---Get one from the hardware store) begin to snip off individual rings. &nbsp;The ends should meet in the middle, but don&#39;t overlap...It isn&#39;t necessary. &nbsp;Repeat this process until you have the desired amount.</p>
<p>After you&#39;ve got your li&#39;l rings, file down an sharp points, then using a rubber mallet or a rawhide mallet, place the rings on a smooth, hard surface and hammer each ring once or twice. &nbsp;This hardens the loop, even though you may not see it, the molecular structure changes. &nbsp;If not mallet, take two hardback books (that you don&#39;t care if it gets a ding), place the rings between the two, then slam the top one on to the bottom. You may want to do this a couple of times.</p>
<p>Now you can use them as big jump rings, or what I did was I linked them together to create a bracelet/necklace. &nbsp;You can link one-to-one or two-to-one. &nbsp;Get creative. &nbsp;Have fun!</p>
<p>BTW, the step where you hammer the rings is a great stress reliever...Just make sure you control yourself so you don&#39;t flatten the rings. &nbsp;BAM BAM!</p>
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